U.S. patent application number 10/461523 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-16 for method of creating season ticket package.
Invention is credited to Rosen, Michael J..
Application Number | 20040254818 10/461523 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33511268 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040254818 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosen, Michael J. |
December 16, 2004 |
Method of creating season ticket package
Abstract
A method of selling season tickets is disclosed in which
unrelated purchasers may reserve a seat ticket for one or more
selected events in a related series of events. When enough seat
tickets have been reserved, a season ticket for that seat is sold,
and the individual tickets reserved for each purchaser are paid for
and delivered to the purchasers. Provisions for canceling
previously made reservations are included. The method is
effectuated on one or more computers, and the computers may be
connected to a computer network, including the internet, to allow
use of the system by prospective purchasers at remote
locations.
Inventors: |
Rosen, Michael J.; (Miami,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL C. CESARANO
SUNTRUST INTERNATIONAL CENTER, 28TH FLOOR
1 S.E. 3RD AVENUE
MIAMI
FL
33131-1714
US
|
Family ID: |
33511268 |
Appl. No.: |
10/461523 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/5 ;
705/26.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20130101;
G06Q 10/02 20130101; G06Q 10/025 20130101; G06Q 30/0601
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/005 ;
705/026 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of selling a plurality of event tickets for a series of
related events comprising the steps of: a. placing upon a first
computer storage medium retrievable information describing at least
a plurality of related events for which one or more event tickets
are available, the date of each of said events for which an event
ticket is available, the viewing location designated by each said
event ticket, and a price for each said event ticket; b. displaying
said retrievable information to a prospective purchaser of one or
more said event tickets; c. accepting from said prospective
purchaser a selection of an event ticket, and payment information,
d. reserving said selected event ticket in the name of said
prospective purchaser, e. updating said retrievable information by
removing said selected event ticket from said plurality of
available event tickets, f. repeating steps a-e until a
predetermined number of event tickets have been reserved,
2. The method of selling event tickets as claimed in claim 1,
further comprising the steps of processing said prospective
purchaser's payment information, and delivering said reserved event
tickets to said prospective purchaser.
3. The method of selling event tickets as claimed in claim 2,
further comprising the step of displaying to said prospective
purchaser said predetermined number of event tickets that must be
reserved prior to processing said reservation and payment
information.
4. The method of selling event tickets as claimed in claim 2
wherein said first computer storage medium is connected to the
internet and steps b-e are initiated by said prospective user from
a device connected to the internet.
5. The method of selling event tickets as claimed in claim 2
wherein said predetermined number of event tickets that must be
reserved is smaller than the number of total events in said
plurality of related events.
6. The method of selling event tickets as claimed in claim 1
further comprising the steps of: displaying to an individual ticket
reservations pending in the name of said individual, accepting said
individual's selection of a pending ticket reservation for
cancellation, removing said pending ticket reservation selected for
cancellation from said individual's pending ticket reservations and
updating said retrievable information by adding the event
corresponding to said ticket reservation selected for cancellation
to said plurality of events for which an event ticket is
available.
7. The method of selling event tickets as claimed in claim 4
further comprising the steps of: placing at least a portion of said
retrievable information upon a second computer storage medium,
performing steps b-e for a second prospective purchaser accessing
said retrievable information located upon said second computer
storage medium, and updating said retrievable information
maintained on said first computer storage medium to include
transactions made by said second prospective purchaser.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] In recent years, sports and cultural exhibition events have
become increasingly popular throughout the world. Such popularity
is due, in large part, to the widespread broadcasting of sports and
cultural events worldwide, and to the marketing and offering of
such events as a series of performances, or "packages" to be
purchased in advance of the series. The selling of a series of
events as a "season ticket" package benefits the sponsoring
organization by relieving it of the work associated with selling
individual tickets for each event in the series, and by assuring
advance payment for each event regardless whether the season ticket
holder actually attends each event. The season ticket package also
benefits the purchaser of the package by ensuring the purchaser of
a specific seat, and of a date and time certain, for viewing each
of the performances in the series. Thus, the offering of season
ticket packages is a widespread common feature of the environment
for viewing sports and cultural events. Unless the context
indicates otherwise, "season ticket" refers to a specific seat that
is available for use by one or more individuals during a season to
attend all related events in a series performed at a facility
during the season.
[0002] Because tickets in good viewing locations are the most
popular, and often are the highest priced, event sponsors may
attempt to sell most of the tickets for desirable viewing areas as
season tickets. For events having a large number of performances
during a season, and also having a relatively large ticket price,
it has become problematic for ordinary spectators to afford the
total cost associated with purchasing a season ticket, or to attend
each event in a season. Yet, the drawbacks to the individual for
not purchasing a season ticket include having to purchase
individual tickets to those performances the spectator wishes to
see; having to accept a less desirable viewing area for each event,
depending upon the overall availability of tickets that have not
been sold as season tickets; and taking the risk that a ticket for
a highly desired event may not be available if the event should be
sold out. For the business that sponsors the events, the loss of
early season ticket revenue in advance of the season, and the lack
of certainty in anticipating the number of overall sales are
drawbacks that this invention is intended to remedy.
[0003] A popular method for eliminating these risks has been for
one person to purchase a season ticket package consisting of one
seat (or two or more adjacent or closely proximate seats), and for
that person to share the total number of events among two or more
persons, each person choosing the individual events that he or she
wishes to attend, and paying the season ticket holder for them on a
per-event basis. The primary difficulty associated with the sharing
of a season ticket package, however, is that people who participate
in the sharing arrangement for one season may move away, or
otherwise choose not to participate for the next season, leaving
the season ticket holder with the problem either of having to find
another participant, or of having to pay for more events than the
holder wishes to attend. When the number of participants becomes
too few, it is common for the season ticket holder to relinquish
the season ticket rather than incur the substantial costs of
maintaining it.
[0004] What is needed is a method for season ticket holders to
offer and sell some of their unwanted event tickets to third
parties, and for persons who are not season ticket holders to join
with a season ticket holder in order to purchase one or more of the
event tickets from a season ticket holder, and to view those events
from a location that is reserved to season ticket holders.
Businesses in the business of offering seats also need a method of
selling its season tickets to groups of unrelated persons who want
access to the season ticket areas but each of whom is interested in
purchasing only a portion of the available tickets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with this invention, a season ticket holder
may offer tickets to selected events by posting them on a computer
network or an internet site, along with complete information
regarding available seat location, number of seats, dates of
events, performances covered by each event, and sales price for
each ticket. Third parties may see these offerings, purchase
tickets for certain events, and make arrangements for payment for
those tickets.
[0006] In some cases, a season ticket holder will not agree to
purchase or renew his or her season ticket unless a predetermined
number of tickets are purchased by third parties. In that event,
the posting site shall also include information regarding the
required level of participation and a cutoff date for the
attainment of that level. Persons wishing to participate in that
season ticket shall reserve tickets by entering their offers to
purchase, and shall provide satisfactory assurances of the payment
to be made when and if the predetermined number of ticket
reservations has been attained.
[0007] If the predetermined number of ticket reservations is
attained prior to the cutoff date, then all contingent financial
arrangements shall be completed, and the season ticket holder shall
purchase the season ticket from the sponsoring organization and
shall distribute the tickets to each of the other participants in
accordance with their commitments. If the predetermined number of
ticket reservations has not been reached by the cutoff date, then
the season ticket holder must commit to purchase the season ticket
having only the reservations that had been made up to that time, or
must release the season ticket and notify all persons holding
reservations that the season ticket was not purchased and that
contingent financial arrangements for making payments have been
released.
[0008] Alternative embodiments of the invention include means for
third parties to review in real time the number of reservations
accepted for a given season ticket and the number of reservations
required before the season ticket holder must commit to purchasing
the season ticket. This information will permit third parties to
assess the likelihood that their reservations will result in a
season ticket being purchased, and to make decisions between two or
more offerings related to the same event. Other alternative
embodiments may include means for third parties to withdraw their
reservations under conditions established by the season ticket
holder, or for sponsoring organizations to use the system either
independently or in conjunction with holders of season tickets for
events sponsored by the sponsoring organization.
[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide
means for a season ticket holder to offer undesired tickets in a
series of events to third persons by providing information that can
be viewed from a computer or other suitable device attached to a
computer network or to the internet. It is another object of the
invention to provide third parties with means for attending events
by purchasing one or more tickets from a season ticket holder. It
is a further object of the invention to provide season ticket
holders with a means for soliciting reservations from third parties
for tickets to events that the season ticket holder cannot or does
not wish to attend. It is yet a further object of the invention to
provide financial arrangements for third parties to pay for their
tickets where payment is contingent upon the season ticket holder
purchasing a season ticket. Yet another object of the invention is
to make available to organizations a system for offering season
tickets to individuals by providing a format for groups of
individuals who are unknown to each other to purchase one or more
season tickets directly from the organization. These and other
objects of the invention will become apparent in the following
description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of the
invention in its most basic form.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting a second embodiment of the
invention in which predetermined events may occur, depending upon
the number of reservations existing at any time.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a third embodiment of the
invention in which reservations may be withdrawn under
predetermined conditions.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting the steps of the invention
when used by a sponsoring organization or other entity having
multiple season tickets to offer.
[0014] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the invention in which
multiple computers communicate across a wide area computer
network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] In all drawings, the same reference number will be used to
indicate the same, or a substantially similar step in the process
of the invention. FIG. 1 is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of
a system incorporating the steps of this invention. Information
regarding all seasonal events to be presented by a sponsoring
organization and related to a specific seat in the stadium,
auditorium, arena, theatre, or other event locale, is placed upon a
site that is part of a computer network. As depicted in FIG. 1, the
information is posted by a season ticket holder 10, although it is
equally acceptable for such information to be posted by a
sponsoring organization, as shown in FIG. 4 at 20. Such information
will include, at a minimum, a listing of those performances
included in the season ticket for which the specific seat is
available, and a price of a ticket for that seat for each available
performance 30. The site may also include information such as a
seating chart to assist a third party in making a decision whether
to purchase a ticket for an event. A third party prospective
purchaser will access the site 40 through a computer network or the
internet to retrieve a display 50 of such information as is
necessary to make a decision regarding available events. The third
party may select a particular event from those that are shown as
having a seat available 60, and may reserve the seat for the
selected event. The seat selected will then be removed from the
list of available events selected by the third person 70, and will
be reserved for the third party. If the third party wishes to
purchase a ticket for other events in the series, he or she will so
indicate 80, and will repeat the process by selecting another
event. At the conclusion of all such selections, the third party's
payment information will be processed 90 and the user may exit the
program 100. The system will be available for concurrent or
subsequent use by another third party. Repeated uses by third
parties will result in season tickets being allocated among various
third parties, and season ticket holders being paid for tickets to
performances that will be attended by third parties.
[0016] Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 2.
In this embodiment, the season ticket holder has determined a level
of participation that must be met before he or she will commit to
purchase a season ticket 32. The requisite level of participation
32 may be included in the display 50 presented to third parties
accessing the site 40. The level of participation can be expressed
as a number of performances, or as a percentage of the entire
season package, or in any other suitable manner. Where the
instantaneous level of participation is furnished to third parties
who view the site 50, it will provide those third parties with a
basis for estimating the chances that a sufficient number of event
tickets will be sold, and that a season ticket will be issued for
the seat in question. In this embodiment, a reservation must be
accompanied by a promise to make payment if a season ticket is
purchased, and appropriate arrangements to secure such contingent
payment are taken. As tickets are reserved for purchasers 70, the
level of participation 32 will be modified 72 and displayed to
subsequent third parties 50. When the predetermined level of
participation is reached 74, the season ticket will be purchased or
other appropriate action taken 75, and event tickets will be
distributed to participants according to their reservations. If
there are unpurchased event tickets remaining for the season
ticket, the season ticket holder may leave the season ticket
available for viewing and the acceptance of further reservations
76; or the season ticket holder may remove the season ticket from
further solicitation 78 and incur the cost of the unsold
tickets.
[0017] A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. In
this embodiment, a season ticket holder may allow third parties who
have reserved an event ticket to withdraw their reservations under
certain circumstances 120. Exemplary of such circumstances might be
that another third party has been listed on a waiting list for an
event ticket, and will purchase the event ticket that is released
by an earlier purchaser; or that the predetermined number of
required reservations to purchase a season ticket has been
exceeded, and the withdrawal of a single event ticket reservation
will not reduce the number of reservations below the predetermined
level of participation; or that the third party may withdraw a
reservation so long as the withdrawal is accomplished a
predetermined number of days prior to the event for which an event
ticket was reserved. These examples are not exclusive, as the
season ticket holder will normally have the final decision on
accepting a withdrawal of a reservation unless contractually
restricted from doing so.
[0018] In FIG. 3, as information is displayed to the third party
50, if the withdrawal of a reservation is permitted, then that
information will be displayed to the user 130. Whether such
information is displayed or not may depend upon whether the
purchaser has previously purchased an event ticket that could be
relinquished, and whether other conditions established by the
season ticket holder have been satisfied.
[0019] A fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 permits
the event organizer to offer season tickets to groups of otherwise
unrelated individuals using the same methods disclosed for other
embodiments. Here, however, the event organizer may also be able to
offer additional services, such as presenting the third party with
a number of seating options 31, depending upon the particular event
and the third party's choice of ticket prices and seating
locations, or including a published cutoff date for the offer 33.
In this embodiment, the sponsoring organization takes the place of
the season ticket holder, but the system of the invention is
otherwise the same. Because event organizers typically permit
customers to change seats or date for an event having multiple
performances, a choice to withdraw a reservation is given 130, and
steps to accommodate that choice by displaying seats currently held
140, allowing the withdrawn reservation to be selected 150, and
modifying the list of available seats 160 are shown.
[0020] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the invention in which event
and seating information is placed on a first computer 200. The
first computer may share all or part of its information with a
second computer 210. The computers may be part of a local area
network or, as depicted, may have individual attachments 260, 270
to the internet or some other wide area network 280. Prospective
purchasers using remote computers or other network devices 220 and
230 retrieve information through remote connections 240 and 250,
respectively, and reserve or cancel prior reservations in
accordance with the methods of the invention. Computers 200 and 210
communicate to update their data to maintain current information
regarding reserved and available event tickets. Database sharing
and record locking may be used to ensure that the same event ticket
is not reserved to simultaneous purchasers.
[0021] The invention disclosed and described herein is susceptible
of many uses and alternative embodiments, and the methods shown and
described are exemplary of the invention, and are not limited
either in the order of steps shown, or in the specific conditions
that may be imposed upon the sale or withdrawal from sale of
reservations and tickets, and one may practice such uses and
embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention disclosed herein, which is limited solely by the appended
claims.
* * * * *